The Observer, April 8, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 24
Once again, it's either Yankees or Red Sox in the AL
As Blake Driscoll reported last week, the top teams in the National League from 2004 figure to repeat their success stories in 2005. The same holds true in the American League, which means that the Yankees and Red Sox will once again battle for supremacy. However, there are a few wildcard teams – the Angels, Twins, and even the Indians – that have enough talent to challenge them.
AL East
1. New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers overhauled their roster in the off-season, bringing in pitchers Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, and Jaret Wright. The Yankees are a lock to win 100 games, but don't expect them to win the World Series. Age is becoming an issue, as two of their starters, Johnson and Kevin Brown, are 40 or older. Furthermore, for the past four years, the Yankees have been buying free agents to help them plug holes instead of strengthening their farm system or making astute trades. They haven't won the World Series since adopting this philosophy, and this year won't be different.
2. Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox proved they weren't quite as dominant as the Yankees, finishing second in the division, but were the better team, as they defeated their hated rivals in the ALCS. This season should be quite similar. The Red Sox have perhaps the most balanced lineup in the game, and the rotation is still solid despite the losses of Derek Lowe and Pedro Martinez. The bullpen, though, is somewhat thin and could haunt the Red Sox down the stretch.
3. Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Devil Rays have developed a strong nucleus under manager Lou Piniella. Carl Crawford is one of the most exciting players in the league, and Aubrey Huff is an underrated hitter in the middle of the lineup. Typical of most young teams, Tampa Bay's biggest question resides on the mound. Lefty starter Scott Kazmir looks like the real deal, but the rest of the rotation is very questionable. The Devil Rays will finish third for the first time, but they're still a long way from contending.
4. Baltimore Orioles. When Sidney Ponson is the ace of a pitching staff, that team is in serious trouble. That is the Orioles' predicament, as their starting rotation is filled with question marks. Baltimore will score plenty of runs, but so will half of the other teams in the league. Pitching is what separates the men from the boys, and the Orioles have not even reached adolescence yet.
5. Toronto Blue Jays. It doesn't seem that long ago when the Blue Jays were winning championships and were the envy of the league. This year's Toronto team does not even resemble those stellar squads. Exciting young outfielder Alex Rios will finally get a chance to play, but, unless Roy Halladay stays healthy, Toronto might lose 100 games.
AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins. As I mentioned earlier, pitching is what separates the men from the boys. Armed with the league's reigning Cy Young winner, Johan Santana, and the league's best bullpen, the Twins pitching staff is the class of the American League. The Twins did lose a few key players in the off-season, but stellar youngsters like Jason Bartlett, Joe Mauer, and Michael Cuddyer appear ready to pick up the slack.
2. Cleveland Indians. I would love to pick the Indians as the division winner, but there are just too many question marks to do that. Will Bob Wickman and Kevin Millwood stay healthy? Can C.C. Sabathia finally reach his potential? The Indians will have one of the top offenses in the league, led by Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez, but their pitching staff, particularly the bullpen, scares me. If the pitching holds up, they'll challenge the Twins for first. If not, they might slide all the way to fourth.
3. Chicago White Sox. Chicago has been one of the more talented teams in the league for the last few years, but also one of the most disappointing. This year, once again, the White Sox have talent, but, like the Indians, plenty of questions. Will Yankee castoffs Orlando Hernandez and Jose Contreras step up? Can Frank Thomas stay healthy? I don't think anyone is too sure how the White Sox will do this year, so picking them third is a safe choice.
4. Detroit Tigers. The Tigers could make some noise if Jeremy Bonderman and the rest of their young rotation continue to progress. The bullpen figures to be stronger with the addition of former Angels' closer Troy Percival. The lineup, anchored by catcher Pudge Rodriguez, could be more dangerous this year with a healthy Dmitri Young. However, like most of the American League, the Tigers are short on pitching and don't have quite enough offense to compensate.
5. Kansas City Royals. The Royals have a great young starter in Zack Greinke and a great hitter in the middle of the lineup in Mike Sweeney. That's about it. At least they have a cool stadium.
AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The worst move the Angels made in the off-season was changing their name. That means the Angels will once again be a top contender. Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez leads a talented bullpen. The starting rotation struggled last year, but should rebound with proven pitchers like Bartolo Colon and Jarrod Washburn. Reigning MVP Vladimir Guerrero is perhaps the finest overall player in the game, and his presence alone makes the Angels the favorite in the West.
2. Oakland Athletics. Despite losing both Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder, the A's still might have the best rotation in the division. Barry Zito is still one of the best starting pitchers in the game and will prove last year's sub-par performance was only an aberration. The rest of the rotation is inexperienced but talented. Overall, the A's are just a mediocre team, but mediocrity might be enough to earn them second place.
3. Texas Rangers. With a great bullpen and powerful lineup, John Hart's Rangers are very similar to his Indians teams of the late '90s. However, the outfield lacks depth, and the starting rotation continues to be a problem. If Hart could add a solid starter, the Rangers could compete with the Angels, but so far he has failed to do so. Therefore, they will compete for second.
4. Seattle Mariners. The Mariners rebuilt their team this winter after last year's debacle. Their rebuilding efforts consisted of grossly overpaying for Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre while ignoring the pitching staff. While the team will enjoy more stability with the hiring of Mike Hargrove as manager, the Mariners need a new pitching staff before they will be ready to contend.
